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Kotohira Travel

Curated Itineraries

Chūsan All-In Reading Course [Rainy Day Plan]

3days

Explore Kotohira mainly on foot and by train — a calm, reflective route designed for rainy days and quiet moments with a book.

＼Local Guide／

KAHO

She first visited Kotohira through a monitor tour during her first year at university.
Since that day, Kotohira has become a familiar place she returns to every year, saying “I’m back.”
Now in her fourth year of university, she is staying in Kotohira for about a month and a half while working on her graduation thesis.

Course Details

  1. DAY.18:30

    Depart Osaka Umeda (WILLER Bus Terminal)

    Arrive at the Kotohira / Konpira Sando-guchi bus stop at 12:50.
    Leave your luggage at kotori Kotohira and head out light.
    Instead of the easy-to-spot udon shops along the main approach, try a place frequented by locals.

    Walk about 6 minutes

  2. DAY.113:15

    Iwanoya Udon

    Iwanoya, a self-service udon shop loved by locals

    A self-service udon shop beloved by locals.

    Beyond the atmospheric shopping street is Iwanoya, a udon shop popular with locals.
    It is lively with local students and office workers.
    My recommendation is the Toriten Bukkake. Freshly fried chicken tempura has a lightly sweet seasoned batter, making it very satisfying.
    It’s no exaggeration to say this is the udon shop I visit most often when coming to Kagawa.

    Name
    Iwanoya Udon
    Address
    291-10 Kotohira, Kotohira Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    11:00-15:00 (Closes when udon is sold out.)
    Closed
    Sundays

    Walk about 5 minutes

  3. DAY.114:30

    HAKOBUNE Building

    Choose a drifting book beneath the HAKOBUNE Building

    A multifunctional complex where gathering, dining, and staying come together under one roof.

    Reading a book you brought is nice, but encounters during travel are important too.
    Next to the elevator are books that have drifted in from all over Japan, available for anyone to borrow.
    Maximum lending period is two years.

    Name
    HAKOBUNE Building
    Address
    725-1 Kotohira, Kotohira Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa, Japan

    Walk about 30 seconds

  4. DAY.115:00

    Sando Sand. Stand

    Relaxed reading time at Sando Sand. Stand

    A place that truly respects personal time.

    Everyone spends time in their own way, making it easy to read without hesitation.
    The shop even encourages knitting at the tables, showing how much personal time is respected.

    Name
    Sando Sand. Stand
    Address
    725 Kotohira, Kotohira Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    Wednesday to Sunday: 11:00-17:00, Fridays & Saturdays: 11:00-22:00
    Closed
    Mondays, Tuesdays

    Walk about 4 minutes

  5. DAY.116:00

    Kotori Coworking & Hostel Kotohira

    Check in at kotori Kotohira

    A hostel where you can enjoy sightseeing while staying in a calm and relaxed atmosphere.

    Located along the main approach to Kotohira-gu Shrine, the area is lively during the day with many restaurants and souvenir shops, yet becomes quiet and peaceful at night — an ideal location to enjoy sightseeing while resting comfortably.

    Name
    Kotori Coworking & Hostel Kotohira
    Address
    720-15 Kotohira-cho, Nakatado-gun, Kagawa
    Opening Hours
    Check-in: 15:00-24:00

    Walk about 2 minutes

  6. DAY.119:00

    Donzo Brewing

    End the first day with a toast at a craft beer bar in the shopping street.

    A craft beer brewery and taproom located in the Kotohira shopping street.

    Donzo Brewing is a local craft beer spot in Kotohira Town.
    Housed in a renovated former pottery shop, it has become a lively gathering place for the community.
    Enjoy a freshly poured pint straight from the taps in front of you — a perfect way to end a day of exploring Kotohira.

    Name
    Donzo Brewing
    Address
    182-2 Kotohira, Kotohira Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    Weekdays: 18:00-22:00, Saturdays: 12:00- 22:00, Sundays & Public Holidays: 12:00-20:00
    Closed
    Tuesdays, Wednesdays

    Overnight stay at Kotori Kotohira.

  7. DAY.28:00

    Cafe Terrace Toge

    Depart the hotel at 7:30 and travel from Kotoden Kotohira Station to Hazama Station. Enjoy a traditional breakfast at Cafe Terrace Touge.

    A classic café loved for its lightly sweet baked goods and nostalgic atmosphere.

    A traditional kissaten that continues to serve as a gathering place for locals.
    Perfect for enjoying a nostalgic atmosphere.

    When ordering cake, all available cakes are brought out on a plate so you can choose. You may even want to order cake just to see this moment.

    After around 1:30 PM on weekdays, the shop becomes calmer as the daily set meals end. Books packed into a phone booth create a lineup unique to this café.

    Name
    Cafe Terrace Toge
    Address
    2951 Hama, Manno Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    7:30-17:00
    Closed
    Fridays & the 2nd Thursday of each month

    Travel from Kotoden Hazama Station to Kurikuma Station, then walk for about 25 minutes.

  8. DAY.212:00

    KITOKURAS cafe

    Forest lunch time at KITOKURAS cafe

    A café inspired by living with wood, where nature and daily life gently come together.

    A lumber shop located in a small forest, with a factory and daily goods shop on site.
    The cafe serves authentic Indian curry.

    Name
    KITOKURAS cafe
    Address
    3600-5 Kurikuma-higashi, Ayauta-cho, Marugame City, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    10:00-17:00
    Closed
    Thursdays

    Travel from Kotoden Kurikuma Station to Kotohira Station, then walk for about 7 minutes.

  9. DAY.214:00

    Shikishimakan Foot Bath

    Take a deep breath at the Shikishimakan foot bath while watching the shrine approach

    Take a slow breath while watching people stroll along the approach.

    Located along the Konpira shrine approach, it’s the perfect spot to ease travel fatigue the very same day.

    Name
    Shikishimakan Foot Bath
    Address
    716-5 Kotohira, Kotohira Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    9:00-16:00
    Closed
    May be closed in case of rain.

    Overnight stay at Kotori Kotohira.

  10. DAY.39:00

    Bagel House KOTOHIRA

    About a 7-minute walk from Kotori Kotohira, pick up breakfast at Bagel House KOTOHIRA.

    A vegan and vegetarian bagel shop offering a wide variety of flavors

    A vegan-only bagel shop located deeper in the shopping street.Offers both savory and sweet bagels.
    Bagels taste twice as good when reheated; we recommend toasting them after taking them home.They pair perfectly with coffee and are ideal for breakfast.

    Name
    Bagel House KOTOHIRA
    Address
    279-2 Kotohira, Kotohira Town, Nakatado District, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    9:00-15:00
    Closed
    Tuesdays, Wednesdays

    Travel from JR Kotohira Station to JR Zentsuji Station, then walk for about 5 minutes.

  11. DAY.311:00

    Zentsuji City Library

    Local reading experience at Zentsuji City Library

    A library with a reading terrace overlooking Mount Gogaku.

    A relatively new facility relocated and reopened in 2022.
    It even has a reading terrace overlooking Mount Gogaku, a personal favorite.

    Name
    Zentsuji City Library
    Address
    2-1-1 Bunkyō-chō, Zentsuji City, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    9:00-19:00 (Sundays & Public Holidays: until 18:00)
    Closed
    The last day of each month (If it falls on a weekend or public holiday, the library will be closed on the next weekday), Year-end and New Year holidays, Special inventory and maintenance periods

    Walk about 5 minutes

  12. DAY.313:00

    Hasegawa Beikokuten

    Enjoy the weekly curry at Hasegawa Beikokuten

    A spice curry restaurant known for its bold and distinctive flavors.

    Once a rice shop, Hasegawa Beikokuten has transformed into a spice curry restaurant.
    True to its roots, the owner mills rice in-house every morning, placing just as much care on the rice as on the spices themselves.
    The result is a deeply satisfying curry experience grounded in craftsmanship.

    Name
    Hasegawa Beikokuten
    Address
    2-5-6 Kamiyoshida-cho, Zentsuji City, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    11:30-15:30
    Closed
    Mondays, Tuesdays, Sundays

    Walk about 5 minutes

  13. DAY.315:30

    Zentsuji City Library

    Second reading session at Zentsuji City Library

    A library with a reading terrace overlooking Mount Gogaku.

    A relatively new facility relocated and reopened in 2022.
    It even has a reading terrace overlooking Mount Gogaku, a personal favorite.

    Name
    Zentsuji City Library
    Address
    2-1-1 Bunkyō-chō, Zentsuji City, Kagawa, Japan
    Opening Hours
    9:00-19:00 (Sundays & Public Holidays: until 18:00)
    Closed
    The last day of each month (If it falls on a weekend or public holiday, the library will be closed on the next weekday), Year-end and New Year holidays, Special inventory and maintenance periods

    Train and walk about 20 minutes

  14. DAY.317:00

    Depart from Kotohira Sando Entrance

    The three-day journey comes to an end.
    Previously, visits were only about walking the shrine steps.
    This time, scenery closer to everyday life was clearly found here.